Keyman MTS Talk with Şuhnaz Yılmaz Özbağcı

Join the Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program for "Energy Security in Turbulent Times & Turkey’s Role in Eurasian Energy Politics" with Şuhnaz Yılmaz Özbağcı, Koç University, on Wednesday, March 13th at 12:30pm in Kresge Hall, Room 1515.

In an era marked by geopolitical fragmentation and confrontation, supply chain disruptions, and accelerating energy transitions, energy security has re-emerged as a central pillar of global politics. This talk examines how turbulent international dynamics are reshaping the contours of energy security beyond mere supply reliability to include resilience, diversification, and sustainability by exploring major trends and key developments in a highly interdependent global and regional context. Morever, focusing on Eurasia as a critical energy corridor, the presentation highlights Turkey’s multi-dimensional strategy, including pipeline diplomacy, investments in energy infrastructure, diversification of supply sources, and recent efforts in renewable energy.

It also assesses the implications of Turkey’s energy strategy for European energy security. Ultimately, the talk offers insights into how middle powers can navigate uncertainty and shape outcomes in an increasingly complex energy landscape.

Şuhnaz Yılmaz Özbağcı serves as the Dean of College of Administrative Sciences and Economics (2021-present) and the former Director of Graduate School of Business (2021-2023), at Koç University, Istanbul. She received her MA (1995) and PhD from Princeton University in 2000 and conducted her post-doctoral studies at Harvard University. She is a Professor of International Relations. She also held visiting faculty positions at UCLA with a dual appointment at the Luskin School of Public Affairs and the Luskin Center for Innovation, Stanford University and Princeton University.
Her areas of expertise include international relations, foreign policy analysis, international strategy, diplomatic history, energy politics, and sustainability. She has numerous publications in leading journals in her field such as International Politics, Political Science Quarterly, and Energy Research and Social Sciences. She recently published a book on Energy, Environment and Geopolitics in Eurasia (Routledge, 2024). Her new book, The Pursuit of Energy Security in an Insecure World: Energy Resources and International Conflict and Cooperation (co-author: Belgin San Akça), is currently under contract with Oxford University Press (forthcoming, 2026).
She received many national and international awards and grants. In 2008, she was granted the prestigious Distinguished Young Scientist Award (TUBA-GEBIP) of the Turkish Academy of Sciences. As a prominent educator, she also received the CASE Outstanding Teaching Award (2012) and Koç University Outstanding Teaching Award (2016). As leadership and professional contributions at the international level, she serves as a Strategic Board Member of the Global Alliance in Management Education (CEMS), as a Business School Impact System (BSIS) expert, as well as an EQUIS Accreditation Board Member.

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Keyman Modern Turkish Studies Program